35 Simple Acts of Kindness That Will Make Someone’s Day — and Yours Too

I’d never seen him before — or since for that matter — but a stranger on an airplane gave me a gift I still treasure today.

And it didn’t cost him a nickel.

Heading from Chicago to Los Angeles on a four-and-a-half-hour, crowded flight with a 5-, 4- and 2-year-old in tow, I was desperately afraid of breakdowns, accidents, and disaster. And I don’t mean the plane. It was the first and longest trip I’d made alone with my three little ones and disturbing the peace was not part of my plan.

Of course this was years before iPads, cell phones, and, at least on this plane, in-flight movies. I had armed myself with puzzles, books, my full attention, and a carry-on bag chock-full of extra patience as we sat (excluding bathroom trips for diaper changes) for about four hours longer than wriggling little legs are made to sit.

After what felt like a month, no breakdowns yet — we touched down in Cali, and whew, almost… I stood up, ready to head toward the door to escape this ticking-time-bomb situation, otherwise known as my toddler (and our loudest child) not having slept on the plane — at all.

A passenger came toward me, an older gentleman with a knowing smile, and stopped at my row.

“I have been watching you with your girls the whole plane ride,” he said. “I wish I had a blue ribbon, but instead I made you this.”

He handed me a notecard. On it, he had written in fancy capital letters Most Fantastic Mom Award.

Oh, wow. This man made my day.

I’ll never forget this stranger and how he so simply and eloquently made a young mom feel more confident with a mere little notecard and 21 bumpily inked letters — a treasure now housed in a gold frame on my nightstand, by far my greatest trophy.

This Monday (Nov. 13) is World Kindness Day, and even though it seems each time I check the Hallmark calendar there is a new holiday I don’t remember from my childhood years — this one seems worth noting.

If anything, it should serve as a simple reminder to add powerful acts of kindness to your day. We all know a random act of kindness can make your day or lots and lots of days. It can be a simple but empowering gesture you hang on to as your kids grow into teenagers. It can be that answer to a silent (or not-so-silent) cry for help. It can be a hard stop to loneliness. Or a simple reminder that when you thought no one was looking, someone somewhere thought you were doing a good job.

So maybe this month, we can all look for little ways to spread kindness. Why not? Kindness is free and we all know a life without it can be costly. So arm yourself with these 35 easy-peasy ways to sneakily make someone’s day and start spreading the love.

Donna Bozzo is author of the book “What The Fun?! 427 Ways To Have Fantastic Family Fun” (Penguin) and is a frequent TV contributor appearing on Chicago TV stations, TODAY, and shows across the country. Next fall, look for her new book on the power of sensory play, “Fidget Busters” (Countryman/W.W.Norton).